Minnesota Foundations 2019

New in 2018! You may register to attend this in-person in St. Paul or remotely as a virtual event.

Get the “inside scoop” on what’s really happening at many of Minnesota’s largest foundations.

Join the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits for this annual analysis of the trends, staffing, program shifts and financial outlooks of dozens of the most important Minnesota foundations. You’ll learn frank, current information about significant changes taking place in Minnesota's foundation community.

Whether you’re an executive director, a board member involved in fundraising or a fund development staff person, this workshop is a great way to jump start your funding prospects for 2019.

This forward-looking workshop offers a great opportunity for you and your colleagues to build your list of foundation prospects for the coming year. It is also a great way to connect to trends in the sector while uncovering the resources necessary to implement your fundraising plan.
The workshop will include information about some of Minnesota’s most active private, community and corporate foundations. This session is a time to dig beyond the grantmakers’ websites and to hear candidly from your peer grantseekers about their experiences and knowledge about working with various foundations.

The session will begin, 1 – 2:45 p.m., with a focus on foundations with statewide giving priorities (including the Twin Cities Metro area). This portion of the session will take place live in St. Paul and will be broadcast statewide to the locations listed below. This portion of the session will be from the grantwriters’ perspective – as informed by their thorough research, years of work in the field of development, and discussions with grantmakers. The session will continue live in St. Paul, 3 – 4:30 p.m., with a focus on foundations that give primarily in the Metro area.

The first portion of the session will also be broadcast from St. Paul to groups Greater Minnesota. The Greater Minnesota venues will also continue later into the afternoon with on-site panels to address local and regional giving.

Registration

Principles & Practices

The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is committed to offering training sessions that support the Principles & Practices for Nonprofit Excellence. This workshop helps us achieve the following:

FINANCE 16: Nonprofit organizations should secure appropriate levels of funding to carry out their missions and activities and, when possible, diversify their revenue sources to avoid being dependent on a single funding type.

FUND 8: Nonprofits must use funds consistent with donor intent and comply with specific conditions placed upon donations.

FUND 11: Organizational communications, including fundraising appeals, must include clear, accurate and honest information about the organization, its activities, and when, where and for whom the funds will be used in addition to the tax treatment of a contribution.

FUND 15: A nonprofit should plan its communications to tell the story of the organization and maintain consistent, mission-focused and timely communication with donors.

Event Details

In-Person
The following details apply to those individuals who register to attend in St Paul.

Refreshments: A light snack and beverages will be served.

Location: Registration is in the upper lobby. The workshop will take place in Room 135 (upper floor).

Travel: For driving, transit and parking directions, please visit the Continuing Education Center's website. Please plan to arrive early; parking can get congested and may take more than 15 minutes.

Virtual
The following details apply to those individuals who register to attend remotely.

Registration: A separate registration is required for each person who will view the webinar. By purchasing the online version of this training, you agree not to share the link and not to broadcast in a group setting.

Technology Requirements: Once registered you will receive a confirmation email. If you don’t receive the email, please first check your spam folder, then contact elearning@minnesotanonprofits.org. Online log-in information will be sent to you several days prior to the session. A reliable high speed internet connection is best for joining this event. If you’re unable to join the webinar live, you will be able to log-in and view the presentation anytime for 30 days following the live webinar date.

Print Publication: A copy of MCN's Minnesota Grants Directory 2019 will be mailed to the address associated with your registration. Due to the “hot off the presses” nature of this publication, it will be mailed after December 18.

About the Presenters

Kari Aanestad is the development manager at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. In this role, Kari secures and stewards grant and individual donor support for MCN. She also supports the development of other fundraising professionals throughout Minnesota through various channels including in-person and online trainings, the Minnesota Grants Alert, and the Minnesota Grants Directory. Kari holds a bachelor of arts in English and political science from Augsburg College and a master of divinity from Luther Seminary. Most recently she served as grant writer and outcomes manager for St. David’s Center. Kari brings a holistic wealth of experience to her role including international travel to over 20 countries, hospital chaplaincy in England, and teaching and tutoring positions ranging from elementary to post-graduate levels in writing and compassionate communication.

Michelle T. Edgerton brings more than 15 years of program and development experience to Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ) having served as the chief advancement officer at The Family Partnership, the director of development at Twin Cities RISE!, the development officer in major/planned giving at the Courage Center, the regional director for Legacy Management Group, and as the director of events and special projects at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities. She recently joined NAZ as the chief advancement officer. She serves on the board of directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Minnesota Chapter. Michelle holds a master of arts degree in leadership from Augsburg College and a bachelor of arts degree in religion from Wake Forest University.

Following careers in creative printing and as a chef, Barbara Martenson has been a writer and professional fundraiser since 1992. She has worked abroad in three countries in the Middle East and in the U.S., as a communications director, development director, major donor officer and grantwriter. Barb has worked with faith-based organizations providing multi-media and university-level services for young people, and food, housing, dental, mental health, and substance abuse recovery services for homeless and addicted people. She has an M.A. in intercultural studies, is a founding member of the Northstar Chapter of the Grant Professionals Association in Minnesota. Barb currently works as a development advisor and grantwriter for the Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities and other area nonprofits.

Sara Spiess brings 15 years of development experience to the Science Museum of Minnesota where she works in Mission Advancement to cultivate, develop and steward a broad base of partnerships among corporate, foundation and government agency stakeholders. Sara holds a B.A. from New York University and actively volunteers in the community. In 2016, Sara was named a Young Professional of the Year by the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce. She is past co-president of GenYWCA, the emerging leaders group of the YWCA of Minneapolis. Sara has served on the board of directors for the Association of Fundraising Professionals – Minnesota Chapter on communications, marketing and membership committees.